Farnham Craft Town

Farnham Craft Town

Family workshop with artist Flora Gare, 2013

James & Tila Waters Dec Circle Pourers

Craft is embedded into the fabric, the homes as well as the cultural life of Farnham. Farnham and New Ashgate Gallery celebrate the rich craft history and a variety of craft organisations practising in Farnham today. Together with Crafts Study Centre, Farnham Maltings, the University for the Creative Arts, the Farnham Town Council and 318 Ceramics, New Ashgate Gallery is delighted to be part of the fabric of the England's Town of Craft.

Just an hour's drive from London, Farnham is a beautiful country town with some of the finest Georgian architecture in the south and a parish church and castle dating back to the 12th century. Crafts have been practised in the area already during the Roman period: the district was known as a pottery centre due to its supply of gault clay, oak woodland for fuel and good communication links. Kilns dating as far as AD 100 have been found in the area. Today, Farnham has a wealth of tempting opportunities for shopping in independent stores, eating out, sightseeing or enjoying gardens and flower-filled yards.

Crafts Study Centre is a major museum, specialising in an unrivalled collection of 20th century and contemporary British crafts. The Tanner Gallery presents work from the Centre’s collections of ceramics, textiles, calligraphy and furniture, from the pioneer makers such as Bernard Leach, through to innovative contemporary practitioners such as Takeshi Yasuda and Ewan Clayton. The temporary exhibition gallery hosts new exhibitions by major contemporary craft practitioners. Falkner Road, Farnham GU9 7DS.

James Hockey Galleriesis public exhibition space integral to the University for the Creative Arts. Within the framework of Higher Education research and professional management, the exhibitions aim to enrich and engage an increasingly inclusive society, and recognise the multicultural contribution of the arts. The presentation of work by students, and the community is balanced with projects showcasing arts professionals and specialists with a national and international reputation. Falkner Road, Farnham GU9 7DS.

Farnham Maltings is a collection of buildings set in the heart of Farnham that provides a place in which people can imagine, create and discover. The Maltings encourages people to make their artwork, supports the establishing of new creative businesses and presents a programme of film, music, exhibitions and festivals. Farnham Maltings is also home to Third Space, a new producing company for the South East of England supported by Arts Council of England dedicated to making surprising, thoughtful and delightful new work for the region's villages and market towns. Bridge Street, Farnham GU9 7QR.

318 Ceramics is a creative organisation which promotes excellence in ceramics by providing education and support to all makers from complete beginners through to professional designer makers. It is based at Farnham Pottery - a set of buildings in the craft town of Farnham, and one of the best preserved examples of a working Victorian country pottery in England. Established in Wrecclesham in 1873 by local potter Absalom Harris, the pottery continued on the same site for nearly 130 years and was run by five successive generations of the Harris family. The Farnham Pottery, Quennells Hill, Wrecclesham, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 4QJ.

Surrounding area

Farnham is an ideal centre for exploring the surrounding countryside with it gentle hills, rivers, leafy lanes, historic buildings and picturesque villages. Farnham is also well situated as a centre from which to visit many places; Windsor, Winchester, Portsmouth to mention just three with historic connections. Farnham is part of the Surrey Hills which offers some of the South East's most beautiful and accessible countryside. Famous beauty spots include Box Hill, Leith Hill and Devil’s Punch Bowl. This special corner of England has lots to offer you from breathtaking countryside to imposing stately homes such as Clandon Park, picturesque gardens and contemporary art galleries.

West Dean College and Gardens is a unique community, a creative and rich mélange of craftspeople and artists, conservators and restorers, working alongside farmers, foresters, builders and gardeners. West Dean College is run by the Edward James Foundation, a charitable trust based in a fine country house with an estate encompassing park and gardens, an arboretum, farms, forestry and a nature reserve.

Goodwood Sculpture Park, the home of 21st century British sculpture, boasts 26 acres of woodland in an area of outstanding natural beauty containing more than 60 large-scale sculptures.

South Hill Parkin Bracknell offers a year round programme of theatre, music, dance, film, exhibitions, workshops and courses, in its magnificent 18th Century mansion and modern theatre.

Watts Gallery is nestled in the Surrey Hills at Compton, the Watts Gallery is dedicated to the Victorian era painter and sculptor George Frederic Watts. With over one hundred paintingsand sculptures on permanentdisplay, visitors can experiencethe Watts Collection in the historicgallery with its original decorative schemes.